Assessments of children starting formal schooling Essay

Assessments of children starting formal schooling - Essay Example Assessments of children starting formal schooling This study will consider ways in which the teacher might identify appropriate starting points in teaching for children who are finding tasks difficult. Advice and information from other teachers and the child’s care-givers, in addition to careful observation of the child, can help to identify ‘where the child is’. This is particularly important for children starting compulsory schooling, as the diversity of pre-infant school provision means that the reception class is likely to include 5-year-olds with widely different experiences and expectations about school. Careful assessment through various forms of observation (not formal tests) of the point reached by a child (say 5-6 years old) in his or her learning, and teaching which builds on this knowledge are main objectives of current study. It is not being suggested that starting points for, say, 5-year-olds should be only in terms specifically and directly linked with National Curriculum attainment targets. Broader assessment based on observation is important for all children but particularly for any children thought to have difficulties in learning. Observation of children is a vital first step in planning how their learning can be fostered. Observation can take many forms, structured or unstructured, involving the teacher working with the child or remaining distanced. When and how teachers observe children will depend both on the aims of that observation and on what is realistic in a busy classrooom.

13 Domestic Cabinet Departments Essay Example for Free

13 Domestic Cabinet Departments Essay 1.) U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) – responsibilities include farming, agricultural products, food stamps, and anti-poverty programs, and conservation and natural resource protection. The inspectors of this department are responsible for the safety of the nation’s food supply. 2.) U.S. Department of Commerce- responsible for everything we buy and sell, they regulate everything from foreign trade to fishing to the granting of patents, they oversee programs that support minority businesses, and provides statistics and analyses for business and government planners. 3.) U.S Department of Defense (DOD)- responsible for supplying military hardware, administering personnel pay and benefits, providing info to the public and military, managing military education programs and attempting to locate missing personnel or prisoners of war. 4.) U.S. Department of Education- their first responsibility is making sure that the nation’s public school systems provide students with proper school supplies, educational facilities and qualified teachers. Personnel promote parental involvement in their children’s education, develop financial aid policies and encourage the use of modern technology in the classroom. 5.) U.S. Department of Energy- works to ensure that the nation has a steady, consistent and safe supply of energy. Energy scientists work to harness the sun’s power while its physicists attempt to capture nuclear energy for civilian or military use. 6.) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) the governments primary agency for overseeing the health and well-being of the American people. HHS employees work on more than 300 programs and perform essential services ranging from food safety to medical research to drug abuse prevention. HHS has regional offices across the country. 7.) U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) first priority is to protect the nation against further terrorist attacks. Component agencies will analyze threats and intelligence, guard the nations borders and airports, protect critical national infrastructure, and coordinate the nations response for future emergencies. 8.) U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) responsible for ensuring that American families have access to decent, safe and affordable housing. Among HUDs biggest programs are insuring mortgages for homes and loans for home improvement, making direct loans for construction or rehabilitation of housing projects for the elderly and the handicapped, providing federal housing subsidies for low- and moderate-income families, and enforcing fair housing and equal housing access laws. 9.) U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) manages the nations natural resources, from land and water to coal and natural gas. By monitoring the extraction of natural resources, Interior Department personnel work to efficiently protect and preserve the environment. The Department also houses the office responsible for overseeing Native American affairs. 10.) U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) makes sure that federal laws aimed at protecting the public and promoting competitive business practices are implemented, including immigration and naturalization statutes, consumer safeguards and criminal prosecutions. The FBI falls under the Justice Departments authority. 11.) U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) administers and enforces laws and regulations that ensure safe working conditions, minimum hourly pay and overtime. Through its varied initiatives, it also works to meet the special employment-related needs of the disabled, the elderly and minorities, and provides job banks, unemployment benefits and workplace health regulations. 12.) U.S. Department of State- responsible for the conduct of the nations foreign affairs and diplomatic initiatives. State Department personnel coordinate conferences with foreign leaders, hammer out treaties and other agreements with foreign governments and protect the safety of US citizens traveling abroad. 13.) U.S. Department of the Treasury- Printing the nations money is only one of many responsibilities overseen by the nations second oldest cabinet department (only the State Department has been around longer). It also sets domestic financial, economic and tax policy, manages the public debt and collects taxes. Less obvious is Treasurys other major role—law enforcement; the Secret Service and the Customs Service are Treasury agencies. 14.) U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Cars, trucks, buses, trains, boats, and airplanes all fall under the Department of Transportations authority. So does the nations transportation infrastructure. The work of Transportation Department employees makes it possible for Americans to travel home for the holidays, away on vacation, and even to and from work. The Transportation Department is also home to the new Transportation Security Administration, which is responsible for protecting the countrys transportation systems and ensuring the safety of its passengers. 15.) U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Best known for its healthcare system, the VA also provides social support services, administers pensions and other veterans benefits, and promotes the hiring of veterans.

Convergence in Technology Essay -- Essays Papers

Convergence in Technology The concept of a â€Å"global village† or a united community around the world has only in these last few years become a concept widely thought of. However, it seems that the idea of a large-scale sharing of information has long been developing, whether intended or not. The tools of communication have long served a single purpose, that of transmitting information from people to people. Direct communication was long ago realised with sign language and speech, but when people spread out, a kind indirect communication was needed. Thus we created (or rather, hired) the messenger. (Necessity is the mother of invention.) This evolved later into a postal service, connected around the world by a network of synchronised offices of a similar nature. For a long time, indirect communication was the only way to communicate over long distances. Once the telegraph came along, however, people were able to instantly communicate information over long distances. This evolved somewhat into the telephone, which spawned the radio and television. As these were developed, the efficiency and clarity of these transmissions improved, and this allowed the world to know what was happening anywhere else in the world at any given time. At this same time, programmable computers were finally coming to be used. Information was input to these machines and stored on tapes that could be put onto different computers to be run. This paralleled postal mail in a form of indirect communication. However, computers were also already based in intercommunication, because computers are systems of smaller functioning devices connected to perform a function or process. The evolution of computers’ communicating then evolved by extending direct connections between these large systems, sharing information. With the invention of the modem, computers could communicate piggybacking a system that people already used. As the modem developed, communications speeds increased. The state of convergence began when people were communicating increased types of information through these computers. First program data, statistics, stock market quotes, news, specific interest information, and finally personal information. Computers became a method of communication within themselves. The increased usage of modems for things like e-mail and on-line forums came about even... ... to use our computer, connected through the internet via our TV cable outlet and displayed on our High-Definition TV, to watch a â€Å"TV show† broadcast via the internet. The ultimate point of convergence I envision for the future is a single fibre-optic cable in our homes (perhaps brought to us by ShawTel?) as a conduit to what we know now as the Internet. Fad appliances like WebTV will be eliminated due to their inadequateness and will be replaced by integrated systems within a household. They will provide for our entertainment needs with interactive broadcast programs, news reports of only the stories or areas we request, and communication via a video and audio connection to anyone, anywhere in the world. This battle for supremacy over who will control the future of communication will be fought largely between the telecommunications companies and the Cable TV companies. Perhaps mergers will be sought, or some companies will be run out of business because of their inability to keep up. Millions of dollars will be lost and billions will be made, but the end product will create a closely-knit global community, able to communicate instantly regardless of language or location.

Audit Proposal Essay

There are many different types of audits including internal, external, and information technology. Companies should be familiar with the types of audits that may possibly be used on an Accounting Information System (AIS). Knowing the different types of audits and where they are used will help a company be ready for an audit and make the process much smoother. There are some circumstances where auditing through a computer is not always beneficial. Auditors want to make sure they are completing their audits fully and appropriately to the best of their abilities. Types of audits used for each process Attestation, SAS 70, SAS 94, and Findings and Recommendations are four main types of Information Technology (IT) audits. If Kudler wants the auditor to provide assurance for each part of the system, an attestation audit could be used. An attestation audit can assist Kudler by issuing reports on examinations, reviews, or agreed-upon procedures. An attestation audit can provide Kudler with independent assurance on the reliability or validity of information related to the four systems under review (KPMG, 2011). A Findings and Recommendations audit can provide Kudler with other information about each system. This kind of audit includes the following: system implementations, security reviews, database application reviews, project management, IT infrastructure, and IT internal audit services. If Kudler chooses to use the Findings and Recommendations audit, this type will not produce an opinion, only a summary of the audit for each of the systems (Hunton, Bryant, & Bagranoff, 2004). An SAS 70 audit is to provide assurance about the effectiveness and existence of the company’s internal controls around a service provided to others. Kudler is not a service  provider. However, Kudler does transmit data to the Electronic Payment Clearing House for automatic submission of the credit card transactions to the applicable financial institutions. An SAS 70 could be beneficial because it is a way to prove that adequate controls are in place to protect the consumer through e-commerce. SAS 94 audits are performed with a financial statement audit and focus on the client’s AIS. It addresses the effect of IT on internal controls in a financial statement audit. Kudler will need a much broader assessment than an SAS 94. Most appropriate audit for each process There are many routes to perform an IT audit. This audit is internal and will look at both Information Technology General Controls (ITGC) and Application Controls. Specifically, the audit will focus on these categories: systems and applications, information processing facilities, management of IT and enterprise architecture, client/server, telecommunications, and intranets/extranets. The audit style will be via Findings and Recommendations as management will have to consider recommendations and the ultimate decision to make changes according to priority and budget. The audit will verify the systems and applications for efficiency and controls to ensure validity, integrity, and security of data and transactions. Kudler will need the completion of an audit on information processing facilities to assess physical conditions of the main housing units and the offsite locations to support the company’s Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP). This type of audit will evaluate the organizational structure and procedures to ensure that an efficient, controlled environment is in place. These relate to any telecommunication controls between client and server, the entire network, and any servers communicating eternally including firewalls. Auditors will assess two types of controls: security controls and access controls. Each of these types should include all three sub-controls: preventive, detective, and corrective. The AIS has an imperative need for controls to address any risks that may exist for every process and transaction. Security access controls are in place to protect data from being stolen, lost, or damaged. Access controls protect data from being released to non-authorized users, hackers, and other intruders. How the audits are conducted Kudler will conduct an information system audit by examining and evaluating  their present hardware and software. They will also examine their IT controls, systems security, risk management, and the adequacy of their current systems. They can carry out their marketing audit by evaluating the effectiveness of their marketing program and examining its capabilities. It will evaluate their functions in respect to their goals, mission, vision, and their values of Kudler, which is done externally. Kudler will examine their faculty, and their deficiencies will be identified. Another suggestion is equipment be audited, the maintenance, and an examination to determine if it’s being operated at the designed levels, safety set-up, security, and access issues. Their audit will be done by an external auditor who will examine their accounts, vouchers to support, financial information tests, evaluation of their financial statements, and also examine the internal control and make comments f or improvements. Events that prevent reliance on auditing through the computer Using computer-based accounting systems does have its disadvantages, such as certain laws pertaining to confidentiality, the requirement to protect against the loss of data through power failures, the infection of viruses, and the abundance of opportunities for hackers to steal data. Computer fraud is also a major worry; the need to initiate internal controls for all those who have access to the business’s information, particularly confidential customer information. An event that Kudler may run into with the need of stronger controls is a security breach, which entails stolen data. Kudler management can be held liable for the loss of personal customer data (University of Phoenix Virtual Organization Portal, 2013). Another event is a computer-based system with feeble controls over the data input procedures and processing, this requires the need for more thorough testing of financial transactions. The incorrect input of data can not only cause misrepresentation of financial statements in the form of incorrect asset valuations but because a mistake in data entry will give Kudler false analytical data such as sales and inventory. Lastly, an auditor will have to assume that auditing through the use of their computer-based method that their CPU and other hardware are operating properly (Bargnoff, N.A., Simkin, M.G, & Strand, C., 2008). Conclusion It is important for companies to stay positive throughout the audit process. There are many different audit processes such as Attestation, SAS70, and  SAS94 which are all effective audit strategies that may be used when auditing the company. Companies being audited should be familiar with these audit processes as well as how the audits are conducted to ensure that the process will be as smooth and stress free as possible. References Bargnoff, N.A., Simkin, M.G, & Strand, C. (2008). Core Concepts of Accounting Information Systems (10th ed.). The KPMG Survey of Corporate Responsibility Reporting 2013. 2014 KPMG International Cooperative. Retrieved July 10, 2013 from: http://www.kpmg.com/global/en/issuesandinsights/articlespublications/corporate-responsibility University of Phoenix Virtual Organization (2013). Kudler Fine Foods Intranet. Retrieved from: https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/secure/aapd/CIST/VOP/Business/Kudler2/intranet/index.asp

Ethical Theory, Utilitarianism and Kant’s Theory Essay

Ethics is a branch of philosophy which has a central concern of determining of how people should live their lives in accordance of distinguishing the right actions from wrong actions (Boatright, 2007, p. 7). In ethics normative theory propose different principles on how society can deal with this dilemma and that is through the introduction of deontological and theological ethical system. Deontological ethics or non-consequentialist theory requires people to do the right thing simply because it is the right thing to do regardless of its consequences (Barry, Sansburry, & Shaw, 2009, p. 1). On the contrary, teleological or consequentialist approach sees action to be morally right or wrong due to its producing type of consequences like pleasure, welfare, knowledge, or happiness (Barry, et. al. , 2009, p. 61). Different approach on deontological and teleological ethics was introduced in explaining the different views of philosophers in accordance of decision making or resolving our daily problems. Firstly is Immanuel Kant, the famous deontologist introduced relationship between duty and the morality of human actions. He stated that an action can be considered moral if and only if it is in relation to our good will which is in accordance with the moral law instead of just basing it on our natural inclination (Boatright, 2007, p. 66). He specified that doing things based on our feelings or self-interest even though it might look like we are doing our duty it has still no moral worth. He then stated that we should relate our subjective choice on moral law which explained that in every intention on our acts should include maxim which is use by Kant’s to set the standard of morality or the categorical imperative (Barry, et. al. , 2009, p. 72). He proposed that based on this maxim people can only act if this action can be become a universal law or which can possibly accepted by the majority. In addition to this, action should always be in respect on other people, that we should never treat others as merely means to our end or to use others for the attainment of our own interest. On the other hand, Jeremy Bentham, one of the first to develop the utilitarian theory, a form of teleological ethics; approach the issue by always relating our actions to the moral doctrine which stated that the morality of our action can be weight to its consequences, that if it results o the greatest good for the human welfare the action is right, if not then it is wrong (Barry, et. al. , 2009, p. 72). He then added that a moral prescription of utilitarianism requires that consequences should not only be taken in consideration of an individual but also in respect of the common good. Added to the consequentialist theory is egoism, which equates morality to the attainment of an individual’s long term interest (Barry, et. al. , 2009, p. 59). As stated in Kant’s theory, maxim should always take into account other people which are a total rival to egoism in which the basis of moral act is self-interest. Another proponent of deontological approach was the British scholar W. D. Ross, a well-known opponent of utilitarianism. Ross emphasised other non-consequentialist perspective emphasizing our duty of care to those who depend on us (Barry, et. al. , 2009, p. 72). Unlike utilitarianism we cannot have single obligation to maximise happiness for our obligations which develop out of different relationship or our different roles to others. For an instance, our duties as a mom to our children, sister to our siblings and a friend to colleagues vary on each. Another deontological approach by Ross and other contemporary philosophers explained that our moral obligation is our prima facie (Barry, et. al. , 2009, p. 73). In relation to utilitarianism’s ratio of good consequences over its bad outcome prima facie explains that one of our obligations can be overridden by a more important obligation that in reality there will come a time that we need to choose from which of our moral duties must outweigh. But then again, unlike utilitarianism, prima facie recognize a genuine obligation that the reason behind this decision is because of the inherit act itself, like breaking our promise to attend to a friend’s party over bringing someone injured to the hospital. Although, we can see that deontological theory is somehow totally contradicting to teleological theory we should still put into account that both views what makes right acts right. As stated earlier, utilitarianism presents moral action based on the greatest happiness for the greatest people. Utilitarians hardly believe that the principle of utility should be the one universal moral code. Principle of utility describes as the greatest happiness principle, that whenever people need to make a choice they should consider the one that can maximise their happiness and minimise their unhappiness for the benefit of the greatest number of people (Boatright, 2007, p. 33). Within the scope of the theory of utilitarianism is the existence of its two subdivisions namely the act of utilitarianism and the rule of utilitarianism which is somehow coincides with each other but in a way see the said theory in a different point of view. Both act and rule utilitarianism agree that an ethical decisions should merely be based on its consequences, that any chosen decision which minimizes the utility is morally wrong and whatever will result in maximising utility is considered to be morally right (Boatright, 2007, p. 2). In addition to this, both views that an individual must aim to act in regards to maximising the happiness of the group as a whole, not just on acting based on their intention to maximise their self-interest (Boatright, 2007, p. 33 ). However, in regards to the assessment of maximising the greatest happiness of the people conflicts arises between the said subdivisions of utilitarianism. Act of utilitarianism is said to be more straight forwards who entails that â€Å"always do whatever act that will create the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people† (Boatright, 2007, p. 36 ). Jeremy Bentham believed that the only criteria for an action to be moral if it will result to the maximisation of utility. He based his moral theory in accordance with hedonism, that whatever is pleasurable for human is good and whatever is painful is bad thus, he insisted that pleasure and happiness is the ultimate intrinsic value or our act. Bentham introduced the hedonistic calculus which can serve as an individual’s guide to act based on the maximisation of utility. This calculation states that individual must rate in accordance to seven proposed consequences: intensity, duration, certain or uncertainty, remoteness, fecundity, purity, and extent. Once the individual equates all the said pleasures and pains on each side, he can then decide to which action result to more pleasure for the common people involve. This approach of Bentham received negative feedback from other utilitarians because of lack in providing overall happiness in the future. Other utilitarians specified that hedonistic calculus is unclear of how long and individual must wait to whether their actions is right or wrong. The inconsistency that was observed in Bentham’s hedonistic approach gave rise to the formulation of rule-utilitarianism. This approach gave emphasis on the relationship of act and the context in which the act occurs. It considers more than just a singular situation by taking into account various types of situation and the respective right actions which both should be based in a set up rules to maximize utility. This set up rule is grounded by harm principle which states that rightful actions should prevent harming people. Another basis of the said rule is the golden rule which states that individual should not do something which he cannot be accepted by everybody and standard of judging should not only be based on single happiness, but the greatest amount of happiness in total(Boatright, 2007, p. 8). Compare to act utilitarianism, rule utilitarianism is said to provide stronger foundation for the accomplishment of ethical decisions for it satisfied both present actions and present situation, but also considered present actions and future situations. On the other way around, rule utilitarianism and Kant’s theory which we just mentioned earlier can present the often confusion that people fac ed in reality of which of the said approach will bring the most moral act. Both of them set some standards in which we can base our actions to determine its morality. Kant’s theory proposed that our actions can only be seen as morally right if it is relation to our good will which is in accordance to the moral law. In here, Kant’s stated that our every intention should include maxim which can be either an act than can be accepted universally or a deed that will take into consideration the respect for other people which generally explained by the golden rule. Same with rule utilitarianism, Bentham introduced the set up rules as standard of moral act which is also grounded by the golden rule and the principle of harm which in a way is relative to the universal acceptance, that harming people in our actions just for maximising our utility cannot be accepted by society. In contrast, Kant’s insisted that moral obligation has nothing to do with the consequence in which rule utilitarianism is promoting. Our actions to be moral should just arise from a moral law that is binding on all rational beings.

Analysis of Domestic Water Consumption Essays

Analysis of Domestic Water Consumption Essays Analysis of Domestic Water Consumption Essay Analysis of Domestic Water Consumption Essay TECHNICAL REPORT OF STUDENT INDUSTRIAL WORK EXPERIENCE SCHEME(SIWES) WITH ABUJA MUNICIPAL AREA COUNCIL(AMAC)ABUJA PESENTED BY ADEYEMI ISAAC SHOLA UJ/2008/EV/0222 SUBMMITED TO THE DEPARTMENT OFGEOGRAPHY AND PLANNING FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES,UNIVERSITY OF JOS IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (B. Sc Hons)DEGREE PROGRAMME IN GEOGRAPHY AND PLANNING. NOVEMBER, 2012. DEDICATION This report is dedicated to God Almighty my creator. To my parents, Mr. Mrs. ADEYEMI. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT My sincere gratitude goes to God almighty for his guidance and grace given to me throughout my six month industrial training. I remain grateful to my parents for their effort and support towards my education. My gratitude also goes to my departmental supervisors Mrs. L. S Rikko and Mrs. Simi, for setting out time to come and see us in our place of primary assignment. I want to thank my industrial based supervisor Mr. Ali Adamu and the entire staff of the zonal planning office for their assistance. Much gratitude goes to my head of department and to all the staff of the department of geography and planning, university of Jos. Finally, I want to say thank you to all my friends who have been of great encouragement to me throughout this period, I remain grateful. ABSTRACT The Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) is a program which has been organized by the federal government through the industrial training und (ITF) for Nigeria institutions in order to enlighten the students on the usage of equipment and professional practice in their different fields of study. In fulfillment of my study as a geography and planning students, I carried out my six month industrial training in the survey and planning unit office Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), located at area 10 Garki, Abuja. This report comprises of the organization chart of Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), urban and regi onal planning department and also Abuja Municipal Area Council(AMAC). his report also contains the functions of the zonal planning office, functions of the urban and regional planning department and also the activities I participated in and experiences I gained. Some of the problems encountered during the exercise and possible solutions, were not left out. In conclusion I recommended ways of improving the program and also support of the program by the federal government. TABLE OF CONTENTS Title page Dedication Acknowledgement Abstract CHAPTER ONE 1. 0 Introduction 1. 1 Industrial Training Fund 1. Brief History of SIWES 1. 3 Objectives of SIWES 1. 4 Relevance of SIWES to Urban and Regional Planning CHAPTER ONE 1. 0 INTRODUCTION The Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme is a program which involves the students, the universities and the industry. The siwes forms a part of the approved minimum academic standards in various degree program in Nigerian universities. The scheme is funde d by the Federal Government of Nigeria and is coordinated by the Industrial Training Fund and the National Universities Commission (NUC 1996). The Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme, bridges the gap between theory and practice and also it is aimed at exposing students to machines and equipments, professional work methods and ways of safe guarding work areas and organizations. This report contains the work undertaken, new knowledge learnt and problems encountered by the student during the six months industrial training in zonal planning office Abuja municipal area council located at area 10 Garki, Abuja. Solution to the problem are also included. 1. 1 INDUSTRIAL TRAINNING FUND(ITF) The industrial training fund was established in 1971 as a man power development agency for the federal government of Nigeria. The provision of decree 47 of 8th October 1971,empower industrial training fund (ITF) to promote and encourage the acquisition of skills in industry and co mmerce with a view to generate pool of indigenous trained manpower sufficient to meet the needs of the Nigeria economy. A clause was invented by the ITF in 1978 in the policy statement no. 1 dealing with issues of practical skills among locally trained professionals. Selection 15 of the policy, states that internal emphasis will be place on certain product of post-secondary to adopt or orientate easily on their possible post-graduation for environment. 1. 2 BRIEF HISTORY OF STUDENT INDUSTRIAL WORK EXPERIENCE SCHEME(SIWES) The student industrial work experience scheme (SIWES) came into being with the establishment of industrial training fund (ITF) by the federal government of Nigeria in 1973 under the degree of 47 of 1971 in other to boost indigenous capacity of the nation’s industrial need. This was brought about by the federal ministry of commerce and industries, finance, education in collaboration with NUC and board of technical education (NUBTE) who thought that the main aim of training and exposing students to industrial fields is to give them practical knowledge of what they have been thought in their respective courses. The first started on the 8th of October 1974 with few number of students from different institutions which later increased to a large number of students in tertiary institutions nationwide. 1. 3 OBJECTIVES OF SIWES To provide an avenue for students in Nigeria Universities to acquire industrial skills and experience in their course of study. 2 To prepare students on anticipated working situations after graduation. 3 To expose students to working methods and techniques in handling equipments and machinery that are not available in their various institution. 4 It enhances students contacts for later job placement. 1. 4 RELEVANCE OF SIWES TO URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING Planning is not complete until the job carried out on paper is transferred to the ground. his program gives students the opportunity of seeing work design on paper presented and transferred on ground. it also help in promoting social interaction and appreciating planning in practice and administration and relating with other allied professionals in planning. 1. 5 HISTORY OF FEDERAL CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Federal capital development authority (FCDA) is parastatals under the federal capital territory administration (FCTA) charged with the responsibility of building and developing the federal capital territory. Federal capital development authority (FCDA) was established in April 1976 by degree No 6 of 1976. Federal capital development authority comprises of 10 departments namely: Abuja metropolitan management council (AMMC), Engineering, survey and mapping, resettlement and compensation, finance and administration, mass housing, satellite town infrastructure, urban and regional planning, public building and procurement department. (chart of FCDA). 1. 6 HISTORY OF ABUJA MUNICIPAL AREA COUNCIL The evolution of Abuja Municipal area council could be trace to its creation as development area on the 1st of October 1984. in 1987, on the recommendation of the Ahmadu Bello University consultancy group it assumed the full status of local Government (area council). The area council secretariat has different departments such as health, works department, legal department, revenue, Abuja environmental protection board. Location/population Abuja municipal area council is located on the eastern wing of the federal capital territory. t is bounded on the east by Nasarawa state,on the west by kuje area council , North- west by Gwagwalada and on the North by Bwari area council. The last demographic report by the national population commission indicated that the population of the area council stood at 309,306. However it is important to note that the population figure may double this number as the area council is daily experiencing influx of people. The people Abuja municipal area council ha s the following ethnic groups: gbagyi, gwandara,koro, gade. he main gbagyi settlements in amac include the following:karu, nyanya, durumi,garki, keffi,kabasa, mabushi, jabi, lugbe, idu, toge, hulumi, pyakasa, jikwoyi, kuduru, orozo, maitama and asokoro areas. the gwandara people can be found in places like karshi, jiwa, awagwa, karmo and idu. The area council besides the city caters for the needs of over 49 communities each presided by village heads. Besides that, the area council has twelve political wards namely:City centre, Wuse,Gwarinpa, Garki, Kabusa, Gui, Gwagwa karshi, Orozo, Karu and Nyanya. (org chart of AMAC). CHAPTER TWO This chapter consist of basically the administrative work, assingment, fieldwork and lectures recived during the cause of my industrial training at Abuja Municipal Area Council. 2. 0 ADMINSTRATIVE WORK/ASSINGMENTS RECORDING OF INCOMING AND OUTGOING FILES: This is as a result of a complaint been brought to the planning office, in most cases it is a problem of encroachment. This complaint is been filed and taken to the planning and survey unit. My supervisor gives me this file to record into a booklet the file number, the date it was filed, the nature of the complaint. An outgoing file is a file I record which have already been treated. CONFIRMATION OF PLOT NUMBERS ON LAYOUTS: This is an exercise given to me by my supervisor. This entails the checking out of the plot numbers on a specific layout to confirm whether the plot exist in the layout and also to verify the total number of plots on a some layout which includes Apo extension II, Jikoyi village Intergration layout. ASSINGMENTS Some assingments were given to me by my supervisor which I carried out. This assingments includes; defination and type of scales and difference between geography and planning and urban and regional planning. DEFINATION OF SCALE: A scale can be defined as the ratio between the distance on the map and the corresponding distance on the earth surface. TYPES OF SCALES Representative Fraction: This type of scale is a fraction that expresses the mathematical relationship between map and the land such as 1:50,000 which is 1 map unit is equal to 50,000 units. Statement Scale: This is represented in form of a statement that a given distance on the earth equals a given measure on the chart or vice versa. Example 2cm represents 1km. Linear Scale: this shows directly on the map and the corresponding grounddistance.

buy custom Culture and Communication essay

buy custom Culture and Communication essay Introduction Culture is defined as a specific lifestyle practiced by a group of people and comprising their values, beliefs, artifacts, ways of behaving, and ways of communicating. Also included in a culture are all that members of a social group have produced and developed, such as their language, modes of thinking, art, laws, and religion. Culture is passed on from one generation to the next through communication. Cultures differ in how their members communicate. In the face of globalization, businesses have to equip their environments to deal with diversity that calls for understanding of the differences of communication in different cultures of the workforce and continuing to establish effective cross cultural communication amongst all the members of the workforce (English142). Before we go deep into the differences caused by the cultures, it is important to first understand what culture really is and its characteristics that make it such an important influencer of employees everyday communic ation. Culture Defined Culture is the root of any society which gives it a flavor and a wholesome environment for individuals to form beliefs, views, perceptions and attitudes. Thus, culture is a set of beliefs, attitudes and values that are learned from living in a society which influence the behavior of individuals living in a particular society. Culture is an external influence upon an individual and includes all the forces that other people may induce upon him. This includes the standards raised by the people themselves living in a society for long. This is the reason why different areas have different cultures and societal norms, as they are man made and which ever object is man made and artificial is bound under variations (Carbough 93). Culture is surely man-made and not natural but it naturally affects the behaviors and communication of people who live by it. Culture shapes all the communication attributes of a person, including his beliefs, values and morals, which are hard to mould and can produc e a significant impact upon his many decisions, including purchase decisions (English 134). Culture is thus, a complex entity with several interdependent components. Two such components that play a major role in culture are beliefs and values. Beliefs consist of the thoughts and statements that reflect the comprehensive understanding of various things in the environment. Values, on the other hand, are not the same things as beliefs. Where beliefs can be many, values are few in number and are different for each society. They are sets of appropriate behaviors that are standardized by the society, and all members are bound by them. Together with knowledge, these components form customs and traditions and as whole an entire culture, that does adapt to the changing environment slightly, but stick well to its valued roots, such as the cultures in Asian countries which are still being strong (Peterson 136). Characteristics of Culture that Impact Communication Following are the major characteristics of culture that strongly influence the buying behavior of the consumers: It is Comprehensive Culture presents a comprehensive outlook whereby all rules, norms, customs, traditions, beliefs, knowledge, and standards match well and coincide with each other and not contradict each other on any ground. That is, all the elements are present in a logical pattern and are more or less similar to each other. Thus, the behaviors and communication of the members closely reflect the cultural standards, whereby the members communicate accordingly to what is set as right in their culture and doing what is considered vile is never accepted by them (Peterson 89). It is Learned Culture is the environment that a person lives in throughout his life, and the beliefs, attitudes, values, etc., are all taught to him through this environment. Culture is man-made and a person is not born with the values and beliefs vested in a culture, they are in fact learned as the child grows (Bonvillain 112). Culture is passed from one generation to another through enculturation, a process by which the members learn the culture into which they are born. A different way of learning is through acculturation, a process by which the members learn the rules and norms of a culture from the native culture. Through acculturation, the original or native culture is modified through direct contact with or exposure to a new and different culture (Peterson 190). It is Set under Boundaries Culture is bound under the acceptable and standard behavior of a society. This is what is taught to the offspring as they grow up. There are boundaries of acceptable right and unacceptable wrong behavior, in between which the culture resides (Peterson 192). It is Either Dynamic or Static Cultures can be dynamic and static. Being dynamic means they are open to change and adapt with the demands of changing times. Being static means the culture does not change any of its beliefs, values or customs. An example of sch dynamism would be the change in family structure in Singapore, where now more American culture is prevailing and youngsters are residing independently and not with parents after the age of 18. For cultures that are dynamic, the employees adjust well in culturally different environment that they face in the workplace, something which is very different for the members of the static cultures to do, as it leaves less room for adaptations (English 137). It is Free of Conscious Awareness There is limited conscious awareness of cultural beliefs, customs and norms. And also, there is a lack of information and learning about other cultures, where several conflicts occur due to misunderstandings and communication gaps. It Satisfies Needs Cultural standards have been formed in each society based on the experiences of its founders. Every group has its own experiences based on which it sets standards. It is also the case with a society, which takes up tried actions and establishes them as standards for the future prosperity of its members. Guidance and teaching being the core functions of a culture, it evolves within a society to include better rules and standards (English 140). It is Shared The best part about culture is that it exists among a group and lives through interactions and relationships. Culture prevails in a society through one generations passing on values and beliefs to another, as well as through communication and relationships. Culture links its members and promotes socialization. This is the very socialization that influences to a great extent the consumer perceptions about brands (English144). Differences between Cultures that Create Barriers in Cross Cultural Communication Different societies around the world are found to have different cultures. Researchers have found out that there are several dimensions of culture that cause such a difference. These dimensions include individual or collective orientations of a culture, whether the culture is high text or low text, the power distances that exist in the culture, gender norms, standards and values, and uncertainty avoidance. Each of these is discussed now in detail (English145). Individual and Collective Orientation Cultures are different in the way they promote individual values (for example, power, achievement, hedonism, and stimulation) versus collectivist values (for example, benevolence, tradition, and conformity). One of the major differences between these two orientations is the extent to which an individuals goals or the groups goals are given precedence. This difference is reflected in advertisements. In Korea, a more collectivist culture, advertisements rely on appeals that emphasize benefits to the group, harmony and family integrity (Devito 92). High and Low Context Cultures In a high context culture most of the information in communication is in the context or in the person. This may include information that was either exchanged via prior communications, or via making assumptions, or via common experiences. In a low context culture the bulk of the information is expressly delivered by verbal means. Collectivism is another distinctive feature of high text cultures. These cultures (Japanese, Arabic, Latin American, Thai, Korean, Apache, and Mexican) place great emphasis on personal relationships and oral agreements (Greetz 231). Low context cultures, then, are also individualistic cultures. It takes much longer for members of high context cultures to establish an interpersonal and social contact before they are ready to start any vital transactions. On the other hand, members of low context cultures need far less time to get to know each other and therefore do not possess shared experience. Consequently, to the member of the high-context culture, every de tail omitted or assumed is vital for communication whereas, for the member of the low-context, what is omitted creates ambiguity (Devito 94). Power Distances In some cultures power is concentrated in the hands of few and there is a great difference in the power held by these people and by the ordinary citizens. These are called high power distance cultures. Examples of such cultures are Mexico, Brazil, India and Philippines. In low power distance cultures (examples include Denmark, New Zealand, Sweden, and to a lesser extent the United States), power is more evenly distributed throughout the citizenry. These differences impact on consumer behavior in a number of ways. In the workplace of low power distance cultures, a member is expected to confront a friend, partner, or supervisor. In high power distance cultures, direct confrontation and assertiveness may be viewed negatively, especially if directed at a superior. Masculinity Vs Femininity In some cultures, males are deemed the sole bread winners of the family due to their superiority to females, whereas females job is limited to the care of the family and household chores. This is so because of the gendeer characteristics associated with each. Traits such as boldness, aggressiveness and command are considered important for supporting females and infants. On the other hand, females are humble, emotional and articulate, so they are given the household responsibly. This is not the case in all cultures. Some cultures give women equal opportunities as men, and they too function as the breadwinners of the family. This drift is mainly caused by the cultural adaptations to changing times (Peterson 195). Uncertainly Avoidance Cultures tend to live under either a structured or an unstructured environment regarding consequences and situations, relating to various situations. The more structured the culture prefers to keep the situations, the more certainty it prefers and avoids ambiguity and is able to tolerate risk. Thus, for such a culture a high level of uncertainty avoidance means high tolerance and preparation for risk suppression. On the other hand, cultures that live in uncertain situations are bound to face challenges and panic to the end (Devito 101). Affect of Cross Cultural Communication in the Workplace So far the discussion has been focused on the cultural differences. It is now time to discuss further the impacts that these differences make on the communication between workers belonging to different cultures in the workplace. When members of different cultures come together to work under one roof their interactions and the consequences of those interactions have large impacts upon the workplace. The workplace suffers from communication barriers and cultural shock that affects the overall productivity of the workplace (Samovar and Porter 128). Communication Barrier Different orientations of culture act as a communication barrier amongst the many members of the workplace who continue to communicate in their own set ways and produce ambiguity and uncertainty after receiving or sending ends of the communication process (Ting-Toomey 242). Effective communication is thus distorted and when misunderstandings take place, performance levels go down (Peterson 198). Culture Shock People experience culture shock when they enter an environment which is very different from what they are used to (Reisinger 81). It is normal but it makes the person very agitated and frustrated, and his work performance is highly affected as he fails to merge his own culture in the new one where some or most of his beliefs have no place. The cultural shock occurs in four stages as outlined by the anthropologist Kalervo Oberg in 1960 (Devit 93). These four stages are: Stage one: The Honeymoon at first there is fascination, even enchantment with the new culture and its people; Stage two: The Crisis differences between your own culture and the new one create problems; Stage three: The Recovery skills necessary to function effectively are gained; Stage four: The Adjustment adjustment to the new culture and experiences Effective Cross Cultural Communication Strategies There are principles that can be used to counteract the problems that result from differences in cultural communications and to make the cross-cultural communication more effective. These principles include: Learning about the culture through reading or observing; Recognizing and facing fears regarding cross cultural communication; (Peterson 100) Recognizing differences between yourself and those who are culturally different; Recognizing differences among culturally different group (English143); Recognizing differences in meaning in the other culture of words and of people; Following cultural rules and customs (Devito 96). Conclusion Culture is by the far the biggest influence upon an individual from the external environment. Culture forms a persons beliefs, values, norms and moral attitudes. Each culture has its own set of beliefs and values that it passes onto the next generation. Communication plays a vital role in the passing on of culture from generation to generation, or from a new organisation into a new employee (Chaney 15). The problem arises when two or more cultures create conflicting situations for employees in a workplace. For example, a member of one culture may find interacting more fondly and too frankly with co-workers a way to develop good acquaintances. This may be offensive to members of some cultures, where close interactions with distant acquaintances is not an appropriate way to communicate. With the advent of globalization, more and more companies are embracing diverse work groups, where cultural differences have to be settled and improved and communication has to be established to ensure an effective work environment for all. But this is not an easy task, as several cultural differences exist with regard to communication. Understanding and respecting one anothers culture is crucial to bridging the communication gap. Buy custom Culture and Communication essay